In an effort to promote literacy, encourage the reading of classic literature and expand cultural horizons, the Ada community, in partnership with East Central University, has launched “The Big Read”.

“The Big Read” community reading program, which is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, came from one of only two grants initiated in Oklahoma and one of only 75 nationwide.

East Central University student Caleb Savage (center) was a featured speaker recently at a Legislative Luncheon at Pete’s Place in Krebs, Okla. Also pictured are ECU President John R. Hargrave (left) and Glen D. Johnson, chancellor of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Savage, ECU’s student senate president, Ada resident and Del City High School graduate, spoke about the importance of a college education and how grateful he is to have the opportunity to purse a degree.

ECU SCREENS continues the Foreign Film Festival with “Phoenix” on Friday, Feb. 12 at 4 p.m. in the Raymond J. Estep Multimedia Center of the Bill S. Cole University Center.

Before the show, come to the University Center at 3 p.m. for a German cabaret experience featuring German sweets and song provided by ECU's Music Department. Named one of the top five foreign language films of 2015 by the National Board of Review, “Phoenix” is free and open to the public.

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the East Central University Faculty, Students and Friends Composer Concert will feature an evening of new compositions and a special choral premiere at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, in the Ataloa Theatre of ECU’s Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.

The Vagina Monologues, an Obie Award Winning Production written by Eve Ensler, will be presented by the ECU Theatre Department, Feb. 4-6, in the Chalmers Herman Theatre of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. each night.

Ensler began writing these monologues in the 1970s and it was performed off Broadway for the first time in 1996. It has been translated into more than 45 languages, performed in more than 120 countries and re-created as an HBO film.

East Central University's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students, faculty, staff, and community
interact to educate students for life in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse society. Within its service area,
East Central University provides leadership for economic development and cultural enhancement.